The Rapid Action Battalion (Bengali: র‍্যাপিড অ্যাকশন ব্যাটালিয়ন, romanised: Ryaepid Ækśon Byāṭāliẏan; abbreviated as RAB) is an elite law enforcement force in Bangladesh tasked with combating serious crimes, terrorism, and organised criminal activities. Operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, RAB is a composite force comprising personnel from the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, BGB, and Ansar. Since its establishment in 2004, RAB has played a key role in counter-terrorism, anti-drug operations, and high-profile criminal investigations.

The Rapid Action Battalion has faced criticism from human rights groups for their use of extrajudicial killings and alleged involvement in enforced disappearances. It is estimated that between 2004 and 2008, RAB had killed 1,062 people.

The Rapid Action Battalion was formed on 12 July 2003 under the Armed Police Battalion (Amendment) Act, 2003. The act was passed through the amendment of the Armed Forces Battalion Ordinance 1979, which provides immunity to RAB officers for actions taken in the course of their duty. Each RAB battalion is commanded by an Assistant Inspector General - AIG (SP - SG) or an equivalent officer from other forces. RAB cannot file cases with the courts themselves, but they can forward the cases to Bangladesh Police, who can file the case with the courts. RAB is composed of personnel from Bangladeshi military and law enforcement agencies who return to their own units after service with RAB ends.

RAB replaced the short-lived Rapid Action Team (RAT), which was formed in January 2003. RAB has faced criticism for alleged extrajudicial killings since its formation. In an editorial on 23 July 2004, The Daily Star wrote "reign it in before it turns into a [RABid] monster." RAB was provided weapons seized from the 10-Truck Arms and Ammunition Haul in Chittagong on 16 April 2004. RAB has a media centre in Karwan Bazar.

On 15 July 2004, RAB arrested Sumon Ahmed Majumder, a Jubo League leader and garment trader, in Tongi. He died within 10 hours of being arrested from torture at RAB headquarters in Uttara. He was a witness to the murder of Ahsanullah Master, a member of parliament from Awami League. Police claimed he died while resisting arrest while RAB claimed he was lynched by the general public. Police refused to take a complaint from his father.

On 30 May 2005, RAB arrested Abul Kalam Azad Sumon, a tailor and Chhatra League activist from Dhaka, along with two others. He was killed soon after. He had been shot six times and his body showed signs of torture. According to his mother, Sumon had switched from Bangladesh Nationalist Party to Awami League, which angered his local member of parliament, Mirza Abbas.

On 8 March 2006, RAB detained Md. Masudur Rahman, a businessman and activist of Jubo League from Dhaka. His body was found with signs of torture and bullet wounds the next day.

On 24 January 2007, journalist Jahangir Alam Akash was detained and tortured by RAB-5 in Rajshahi by Major Rashidul Hassan Rashid.